Having trouble with first time using aircraft

[captaindorja]

I've played RTW and RTW2 a fair amount, but I always forget what I was doing if I stop playing a save for a few weeks, and end up starting over. As it is, I just built a sea plane carrier.

I can't figure out how to get an air group to assign onto it.

I have read this guide. nws-online.proboards.com/thread/3923/beginners-manual-operating-aircraft It seems quite good, and he includes a bit about assigning squadrons to a base or a ship, and I know how to create and assign squadrons to bases. However, my seaplane carrier doesn't show up as a place where I can assign a sqaudron. I have a squadron sitting there twiddling their thumbs, and I have a sea plane carrier sitting right next to them, also twiddling it's thumbs, and I can't figure out how to make them stop twiddling thumbs and embark.

Anyone got any ideas lol

[hawkeye]

IIRC, Seaplane Tenders aren't assigned squadrons like carriers or bases, but are assigned planes automatically by the game.

[srndacful]

captaindorja

Since there are several kinds of plane types you can assign to carriers and airfields, assigning squadrons into air groups on those carriers and airfields is meant for us to mix-and-match the aircraft complement however we want - i.e. if you're going to Europe, you'll need more fighters - and this is how you do it. 

But ordinary ships (and seaplane carriers) can only carry seaplanes - so the game kindly automates the process by filling up the vacant slots - no mixing-and-matching required. 

In action, as well, you'll find that the seaplanes are mostly automated: their one major use is recon, and the game automatically launches them at the start of battle. 

[jwsmith26]

Nov 24, 2022 23:57:09 GMT -6 srndacful said:

captaindorja

Since there are several kinds of plane types you can assign to carriers and airfields, assigning squadrons into air groups on those carriers and airfields is meant for us to mix-and-match the aircraft complement however we want - i.e. if you're going to Europe, you'll need more fighters - and this is how you do it. 

But ordinary ships (and seaplane carriers) can only carry seaplanes - so the game kindly automates the process by filling up the vacant slots - no mixing-and-matching required. 

In action, as well, you'll find that the seaplanes are mostly automated: their one major use is recon, and the game automatically launches them at the start of battle. 

Yes, search is the primary and most effective use for floatplanes, but floatplanes can be assigned strike roles to attack land or naval targets (and they sometimes even manage a bomb hit). They can also be assigned to carry out CAP missions by using the "Provide CAP to" field on the division screen. This can even be used to provide CAP over the seaplane's own division. The Japanese used floatplanes extensively for CAP missions, notably during the Solomons campaign, including many night missions. Their effectiveness in RTW in these roles is quite limited, as it was historically, but the ability is there.